I read a lot. Often I have about three books on the go at once, two print (paper or electronic) and an audio.
I used to only read mysteries, usually ones where someone died. I enjoy police procedurals or storylines featuring serial killers. I also really like psychological thrillers. I enjoy reading Karin Slaughter, Dick Francis, Jane Casey, Ellie Griffiths, Mick Herron, Harlan Coben, Angela Marsons, and Robert Galbraith.
During lockdown in 2020 I lodged an order for a lot of non-fiction books. I had decided instead of constantly studying I could just read books about things that interested me. Social history is interesting to me. At around this time I also began reading Jennifer Worth’s Call the Midwife series which I had had on my shelf since a previously large online order. Did you know, often if you spend enough money you don’t have to pay postage?
Many of those books remain unread as I had started studying at the beginning of 2020 so did not get through them as I had anticipated. I have To Be Read shelves rather than piles. The books are sorted into fiction and non-fiction, the non-fiction arranged into Christian and secular, not sure why.
As a result of my foray into non-fiction I began exploring historical fiction which I had never been interested in before; it seemed like cheating and the accuracy of the history was questionable. Of course, the accuracy of history books is questionable depending on who is writing it. Anyway, I discovered the novel The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny LeCoat which was set during the German occupation of the Channel Islands, a time I have always been interested in as my mum visited Jersey when she was young and had told me a little of the history. Subsequently I found another book about the occupation by Lorna Cook and then The Girl Behind the Wall by Mandy Robotham. I have now read numerous historical novels based on events surrounding or during WWII. I love them.
Most recently, I have started reading more contemporary women’s fiction that focuses on female friendships. I find them quite refreshing compared to my usually grim choices. There is not a murderer or a Nazi to be seen. Sophie Green and Sandie Docker are my latest finds.I also read a lot of picture books as I mainly teach young children. I have read some novels for teens or young adults; the best would have to be The Things We Can’t Undo by Gabrielle Reid.
Trish Lewis 